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Marjory Raymer: The story behind #iwantyoutoknow

iwantyoutoknow"I want you to know" is a video featuring a suicide prevention message from a few famous people, some regular people who care enough to take a stand and some families for whom this message is too late. Watch the video and share it. You never know who might need to hear it. Add your voice at #iwantyoutoknow

Those of us who have moved beyond high school, moved beyond the angst of being a teen and the struggle to find our identity, know he was wrong.

If only Josh would have known that.

Instead, Josh Pacheco wrote that note to his family and took his own life on Nov. 27.

Lainie Beck (center), 18, of Linden, is comforted by others on stage at the Mill Pond Gazebo in Linden in December on after speaking out against bullying and how it effected her life during a vigil for Linden High School student Joshua Pacheco, 17, who committed suicide at his home in Fenton.MLive file photo

His parents agreed to talk with reporter Sarah Schuch about his death, the bullying that preceded it, his sexual orientation and their agony. They spoke with brutal honesty.

It hurt to read about Josh. It hurt to see Josh’s smile in photos, to see what a bright future he had, to see hundreds throughout our community mourn him.

Josh isn’t alone. About 50 people commit suicide in Genesee County every year.

And, yet we don't talk about it.

We don’t talk about it in the media. We don’t talk about it as a society. We like to pretend it just doesn’t exist.

As part of reporting about Josh's death, experts stressed over and over again how important it is that we do talk about it. The community needs to know where it can get resources and how to help someone who is at risk.

And, so, we decided to talk about it. In a big way.

The entire editorial staff of MLive-Flint Journal came together to develop the #iwantyoutoknow campaign targeting suicide prevention.

The heart of the effort is a video that features a variety of people -- including Gov. Rick Snyder, students, sports stars Mateen Cleaves and Claressa Shields, rap artist Jon Connor, Josh's family, even ex-convicts – all of whom cared enough to speak out on suicide and help in the effort.

We consulted with suicide experts to develop the project and it also includes a look at the prevalence and impact of suicide in Genesee County, tips that could help you save a life and several personal stories – including that of a suicide survivor, her attempt to kill herself and the life she almost didn’t get to live.

We want can’t talk about it enough.

We hope you will watch the video and share it with your friends and family. You never really know who might need to see it.